Beginning in 2026—through a combination of scholarships, financial awards and tuition waivers —King’s will fully cover the cost of tuition for up to three African Nova Scotian students each academic year who are studying in the university’s undergraduate or postgraduate programs in journalism.
“This initiative reflects our commitment to becoming a more inclusive university—one that actively supports African Nova Scotian students, not just in admission, but through to graduation and beyond,” said President William Lahey. “It’s a proud moment for King’s and a meaningful step forward.”
The funding offered to students in this initiative will ensure that neither the students and their families nor their communities will be responsible for bearing the financial burden of tuition. Participants in the initiative must meet King’s admission requirements.
The initiative will build upon the funding King’s already offers for African Nova Scotian and Black students through existing scholarships, financial awards and bursaries, including:
- the Gordon Earle Scholarship for African Nova Scotian students in any King’s undergraduate degree program
- the Sylvia D. Hamilton Awards for African Nova Scotian and Black students studying journalism or creative writing
- the Carrie Best Scholarship for Indigenous and Black students in any King’s undergraduate degree program
- the Global News Scholarship for Black students enrolled in the undergraduate honours program in journalism
- the CTV News Atlantic Scholarship for Black students in the postgraduate Bachelor of Journalism program.
The African Nova Scotian Journalism Initiative is based on a cohort model and mirrors the current cohort model for Mi’kmaw students looking to study journalism at King’s. Cohort models operate on the premise that a group of students who study together in a program benefit from the relationships they form and the support they provide one another throughout their education. The ability to form relationships with peers who share the same cultural context is considered a strong enabler of success, making cohort models especially important for students from underrepresented communities.
This program is also an important step forward to ensure that King’s is a welcoming university to African Nova Scotian and Black students, faculty and staff. It is being supported by the university’s evolving partnerships with the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia (BCC) and the PREP Academy.
Here’s what the King’s community and beyond had to say about the initiative:
“This initiative is a meaningful step toward addressing systemic barriers and ensuring African Nova Scotian voices are heard in media and journalism. I commend King’s for recognizing the value and brilliance of our community and taking meaningful action to support our students in telling their own stories.”
Hon. Twila Grosse
Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs
“Access to post-secondary education must reflect the diversity of our province. By removing financial barriers for African Nova Scotian students and fostering inclusive academic communities, this initiative aligns with our shared goal of equity in education and opportunity.”
Hon. Brendan Maguire
Minister of Advanced Education
“We are proud to see this initiative grow out of our partnership with King’s and in direct response to our community’s needs. Representation in journalism is critical—and this program helps ensure African Nova Scotian stories are told with authenticity and integrity by those who live them.”
Russell Grosse
CEO, Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia
“The African Nova Scotian Journalism Initiative reflects the very purpose of PREP—to create access, belonging, and success for our students. I’m thrilled to see King’s take this important step, not just in funding, but in creating space and support systems that affirm identity and excellence.”
Ashley Hill
Founder and Executive Director, the PREP Academy
“Journalism needs more African Nova Scotian voices. This initiative is about building pathways and community, ensuring our program better reflects the people and stories of this province. It’s an important moment for journalism education in Atlantic Canada.”
Fred Vallance-Jones
Director of Journalism, University of King’s College
“The ANSJI involves direct recruiting of Black students, which is critical to building trust with the community. This initiative, along with King’s commitments under the Scarborough Charter, could go a long way towards addressing underrepresentation of Black people in Canada’s media ecosystem.”
Brian Daly
Assistant Professor, Journalism and Board Member, University of King’s College
